System implementing parallel lift for range of angles

ABSTRACT

A hydraulic system is disclosed. The hydraulic system may have a pump, a lift actuator, a lift valve arrangement, a tilt actuator, a tilt valve arrangement, and a tilt angle sensor configured to generate a first signal. The hydraulic system may further have at least one operator interface device movable to generate a second signal indicative of a desired lift velocity and a third signal indicative of desired tilt velocity, and a controller. The controller may be configured to command the lift valve arrangement to meter pressurized fluid based on the second signal, command the tilt valve arrangement to meter pressurized fluid based on the third signal and, when the first signal indicates that the actual tilt angle has entered a specified range of tilt angles during lifting, command the tilt valve arrangement to meter pressurized fluid based on the second signal as the actual tilt angle remains within the specified range.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to a system, and moreparticularly, to a hydraulic tool system implementing parallel lift fora specified range of angles.

BACKGROUND

Machines such as wheel loaders, excavators, dozers, motor graders, andother types of heavy equipment use multiple actuators supplied withhydraulic fluid from one or more pumps on the machine to accomplish avariety of tasks. These actuators are typically velocity controlledbased on, among other things, an actuation position of an operatorinterface device. For example, when the operator of a wheel loader pullsa joystick controller rearward or pushes the joystick controllerforward, one or more lift cylinders mounted on the wheel loader eitherextend to lift a work tool of the machine away from a ground surface orretract to lower the work tool back toward the ground surface at speedsrelated to the fore/aft displacement positions of the joystickcontroller. Similarly, when the operator pushes the same or anotherjoystick controller to the left or right, tilt cylinders mounted on thewheel loader either extend to dump the work tool downward toward theground surface or retract to rack the work tool backward away from thework surface at speeds related to the left/right displacement positionsof the joystick controller.

In some machine configurations, when a work tool is lifted away from orlowered toward the ground surface, a tilt angle of the work toolrelative to the ground surface naturally changes (e.g., the work toolmay rack backward toward a cab of the machine during lifting, and dumpdownward toward the ground surface during lowering) due to mechanicallinkage connected to the work tool, even though tilting had not beenrequested by the operator. In this situation, it may be possible formaterial within the work tool to spill over an edge of the work tool, insome cases onto the machine and/or operator of the machine.Historically, the operator of the machine was responsible forsimultaneously adjusting movement of the tilt cylinder during lifting toensure that the tilt angle of the work tool remained at a desired angle(i.e., to counteract the naturally occurring tilt of the work toolcaused by lifting). This dual-control manual procedure, however, can bedifficult to control and error prone.

One attempt to automatically reduce the likelihood of material spillingfrom a machine's work tool during lifting is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.7,530,185 that issued to Trifunovic on May 12, 2009 (the '185 patent).In particular, the '185 patent describes an electronic parallel liftsystem for a backhoe loader. The electronic parallel lift systemincludes a controller that causes an angle of the backhoe's tool to beautomatically adjusted based on measurement of the tool's angle relativeto the backhoe's frame, regardless of any particular mechanicalrelationship between supporting tool linkage, the backhoe's boom, andthe tool. The controller uses at least one sensor to detect the angle ofthe tool relative to the vehicle frame, and then responsively commands atool actuator to adjust the tool position as a function of the measuredangle during boom movement.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a hydraulic system.The hydraulic system may include a pump configured to pressurize fluid,a lift actuator, and a lift valve arrangement configured to meterpressurized fluid from the pump into the lift actuator to lift a worktool. The hydraulic system may also have a tilt actuator, a tilt valvearrangement configured to meter pressurized fluid from the pump into thetilt actuator to tilt the work tool, and a tilt angle sensor associatedwith the tilt actuator and configured to generate a first signalindicative of an actual tilt angle of the work tool. The hydraulicsystem may further have at least one operator interface device movableby an operator to generate a second signal indicative of a desired liftvelocity of the work tool, and a third signal indicative of desired tiltvelocity of the work tool, and a controller in communication with thelift valve arrangement, the lift sensor, the tilt valve arrangement, andthe at least one operator interface device. The controller may beconfigured to command the lift valve arrangement to meter pressurizedfluid into the lift actuator to lift the work tool based on the secondsignal, command the tilt valve arrangement to meter pressurized fluidinto the tilt actuator to tilt the work tool based on the third signal,and, when the first signal indicates that the actual tilt angle of thework tool has entered a specified range of tilt angles during lifting,command the tilt valve arrangement to meter pressurized fluid into thetilt actuator based on the second signal and maintain a desired tiltangle of the work tool as long as the actual tilt angle of the work toolremains within the specified range.

In another aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a method ofoperating a machine. The method may include receiving operator inputindicative of a desired lift velocity of a work tool and a desired tiltvelocity of the work tool, pressurizing fluid, metering pressurizedfluid into a lift actuator based on the desired lift velocity, andmetering pressurized fluid into a tilt actuator based on the desiredtilt velocity. The method may further include sensing an actual tiltangle of the work tool and, when the actual tilt angle of the work toolenters a specified range of tilt angles during lifting, meteringpressurized fluid into the tilt actuator based on the desired liftvelocity to maintain a desired tilt angle of the work tool duringlifting for as long as the actual tilt angle of the work tool remainswithin the specified range.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side-view diagrammatic illustration of an exemplarydisclosed machine;

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary disclosed hydraulicsystem that may be used in conjunction with the machine of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary disclosed methodperformed by the hydraulic system of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary machine 10 having multiple systems andcomponents that cooperate to accomplish a task. Machine 10 may embody afixed or mobile machine that performs some type of operation associatedwith an industry such as mining, construction, farming, transportation,or another industry known in the art. For example, machine 10 may be amaterial moving machine such as the loader depicted in FIG. 1.Alternatively, machine 10 could embody an excavator, a dozer, a backhoe,a motor grader, or another similar machine. Machine 10 may include,among other things, a linkage system 12 configured to move a work tool14, and a prime mover 16 that provides power to linkage system 12.

Linkage system 12 may include structure acted on by fluid actuators tomove work tool 14. Specifically, linkage system 12 may include a boom(i.e., a lifting member) 17 that is vertically pivotable about ahorizontal axis 28 relative to a ground surface 18 by a pair ofadjacent, double-acting, hydraulic cylinders 20 (only one shown in FIG.1). Linkage system 12 may also include a single, double-acting,hydraulic cylinder 26 connected to tilt work tool 14 relative to boom 17in a vertical direction about a horizontal axis 30. Boom 17 may bepivotably connected at one end to a body 32 of machine 10, while worktool 14 may be pivotably connected to an opposing end of boom 17. Itshould be noted that alternative linkage configurations may also bepossible.

Numerous different work tools 14 may be attachable to a single machine10 and controlled to perform a particular task. For example, work tool14 could embody a bucket (shown in FIG. 1), a fork arrangement, a blade,a shovel, a ripper, a dump bed, a broom, a snow blower, a propellingdevice, a cutting device, a grasping device, or another task-performingdevice known in the art. Although connected in the embodiment of FIG. 1to lift and tilt relative to machine 10, work tool 14 may alternativelyor additionally pivot, rotate, slide, swing, or move in any otherappropriate manner.

Prime mover 16 may embody an engine such as, for example, a dieselengine, a gasoline engine, a gaseous fuel-powered engine, or anothertype of combustion engine known in the art that is supported by body 32of machine 10 and operable to power the movements of machine 10 and worktool 14. It is contemplated that prime mover may alternatively embody anon-combustion source of power, if desired, such as a fuel cell, a powerstorage device (e.g., a battery), or another source known in the art.Prime mover 16 may produce a mechanical or electrical power output thatmay then be converted to hydraulic power for moving hydraulic cylinders20 and 26.

For purposes of simplicity, FIG. 2 illustrates the composition andconnections of only hydraulic cylinder 26 and one of hydraulic cylinders20. It should be noted, however, that machine 10 may include otherhydraulic actuators of similar composition connected to move the same orother structural members of linkage system 12 in a similar manner, ifdesired.

As shown in FIG. 2, each of hydraulic cylinders 20 and 26 may include atube 34 and a piston assembly 36 arranged within tube 34 to form a firstchamber 38 and a second chamber 40. In one example, a rod portion 36 aof piston assembly 36 may extend through an end of second chamber 40. Assuch, second chamber 40 may be associated with a rod-end 44 of itsrespective cylinder, while first chamber 38 may be associated with anopposing head-end 42 of its respective cylinder.

First and second chambers 38, 40 may each be selectively supplied withpressurized fluid and drained of the pressurized fluid to cause pistonassembly 36 to displace within tube 34, thereby changing an effectivelength of hydraulic cylinders 20, 26 and moving work tool 14 (referringto FIG. 1). A flow rate of fluid into and out of first and secondchambers 38, 40 may relate to a velocity of hydraulic cylinders 20, 26and work took 14, while a pressure differential between first and secondchambers 38, 40 may relate to a force imparted by hydraulic cylinders20, 26 on work tool 14. An expansion (represented by an arrow 46) and aretraction (represented by an arrow 47) of hydraulic cylinders 20, 26may function to assist in moving work tool 14 in different manners(e.g., lifting and tilting work tool 14, respectively).

To help regulate filling and draining of first and second chambers 38,40, machine 10 may include a hydraulic control system 48 having aplurality of interconnecting and cooperating fluid components. Hydrauliccontrol system 48 may include, among other things, a valve stack 50 atleast partially forming a circuit between hydraulic cylinders 20, 26, anengine-driven pump 52, and a tank 53. Valve stack 50 may include a liftvalve arrangement 54, a tilt valve arrangement 56, and, in someembodiments, one or more auxiliary valve arrangements (not shown) thatare fluidly connected to receive and discharge pressurized fluid inparallel fashion. In one example, valve arrangements 54, 56 may includeseparate bodies bolted to each other to form valve stack 50. In anotherembodiment, each of valve arrangements 54, 56 may be stand-alonearrangements, connected to each other only by way of external fluidconduits (not shown). It is contemplated that a greater number, a lessernumber, or a different configuration of valve arrangements may beincluded within valve stack 50, if desired. For example, a swing valvearrangement (not shown) configured to control a swinging motion oflinkage system 12, one or more travel valve arrangements, and othersuitable valve arrangements may be included within valve stack 50.Hydraulic control system 48 may further include a controller 58 incommunication with prime mover 16 and with valve arrangements 54, 56 tocontrol corresponding movements of hydraulic cylinders 20, 26.

Each of lift and tilt valve arrangements 54, 56 may regulate the motionof their associated fluid actuators. Specifically, lift valvearrangement 54 may have elements movable to simultaneously control themotions of both of hydraulic cylinders 20 and thereby lift boom 17relative to ground surface 18. Likewise, tilt valve arrangement 56 mayhave elements movable to control the motion of hydraulic cylinder 26 andthereby tilt work tool 14 relative to boom 17.

Valve arrangements 54, 56 may be connected to regulate separate flows ofpressurized fluid to and from hydraulic cylinders 20, 26 via commonpassages. Specifically, valve arrangements 54, 56 may be connected topump 52 by way of a common supply passage 60, and to tank 53 by way of acommon drain passage 62. Lift and tilt valve arrangements 54, 56 may beconnected in parallel to common supply passage 60 by way of individualfluid passages 66 and 68, respectively, and in parallel to common drainpassage 62 by way of individual fluid passages 72 and 74, respectively.A pressure compensating valve 78 and/or a check valve 79 may be disposedwithin each of fluid passages 66, 68 to provide a unidirectional supplyof fluid having a substantially constant flow to valve arrangements 54,56. Pressure compensating valves 78 may be pre- (shown in FIG. 2) orpost-compensating (not shown) valves movable, in response to adifferential pressure, between a flow passing position and a flowblocking position such that a substantially constant flow of fluid isprovided to valve arrangements 54 and 56, even when a pressure of thefluid directed to pressure compensating valves 78 varies. It iscontemplated that, in some applications, pressure compensating valves 78and/or check valves 79 may be omitted, if desired.

Each of lift and tilt valve arrangements 54, 56 may be substantiallyidentical and include four independent metering valves (IMVs). Of thefour IMVs, two may be generally associated with fluid supply functions,while two may be generally associated with drain functions. For example,lift valve arrangement 54 may include a head-end supply valve 80, arod-end supply valve 82, a head-end drain valve 84, and a rod-end drainvalve 86. Similarly, tilt valve arrangement 56 may include a head-endsupply valve 88, a rod-end supply valve 90, a head-end drain valve 92,and a rod-end drain valve 94.

Head-end supply valve 80 may be disposed between fluid passage 66 and afluid passage 104 that leads to first chamber 38 of hydraulic cylinder20, and be configured to regulate a flow rate of pressurized fluid intofirst chamber 38 in response to a flow command from controller 58.Head-end supply valve 80 may include a variable-position, spring-biasedvalve element, for example a poppet or spool element, that is solenoidactuated and configured to move to any position between a firstend-position at which fluid is allowed to flow into first chamber 38,and a second end-position at which fluid flow is blocked from firstchamber 38. It is contemplated that head-end supply valve 80 may also beconfigured to allow fluid from first chamber 38 to flow through head-endsupply valve 80 during a regeneration event when a pressure within firstchamber 38 exceeds a pressure of pump 52 and/or a pressure of thechamber receiving the regenerated fluid. It is further contemplated thathead-end supply valve 80 may include additional or different elementsthan described above such as, for example, a fixed-position valveelement or any other valve element known in the art. It is alsocontemplated that head-end supply valve 80 may alternatively behydraulically actuated, mechanically actuated, pneumatically actuated,or actuated in another suitable manner.

Rod-end supply valve 82 may be disposed between fluid passage 66 and afluid passage 106 leading to second chamber 40 of hydraulic cylinder 20,and be configured to regulate a flow rate of pressurized fluid intosecond chamber 40 in response to a flow command from controller 58.Rod-end supply valve 82 may include a variable-position, spring-biasedvalve element, for example a poppet or spool element, that is solenoidactuated and configured to move to any position between a firstend-position at which fluid is allowed to flow into second chamber 40,and a second end-position at which fluid is blocked from second chamber40. It is contemplated that rod-end supply valve 82 may also beconfigured to allow fluid from second chamber 40 to flow through rod-endsupply valve 82 during a regeneration event when a pressure withinsecond chamber 40 exceeds a pressure of pump 52 and/or a pressure of thechamber receiving the regenerated fluid. It is further contemplated thatrod-end supply valve 82 may include additional or different valveelements such as, for example, a fixed-position valve element or anyother valve element known in the art. It is also contemplated thatrod-end supply valve 82 may alternatively be hydraulically actuated,mechanically actuated, pneumatically actuated, or actuated in anothersuitable manner.

Head-end drain valve 84 may be disposed between fluid passage 104 andfluid passage 72, and be configured to regulate a flow rate ofpressurized fluid from first chamber 38 of hydraulic cylinder 20 to tank53 in response to a flow command from controller 58. Head-end drainvalve 84 may include a variable-position, spring-biased valve element,for example a poppet or spool element, that is solenoid actuated andconfigured to move to any position between a first end-position at whichfluid is allowed to flow from first chamber 38, and a secondend-position at which fluid is blocked from flowing from first chamber38. It is contemplated that head-end drain valve 84 may includeadditional or different valve elements such as, for example, afixed-position valve element or any other valve element known in theart. It is also contemplated that head-end drain valve 84 mayalternatively be hydraulically actuated, mechanically actuated,pneumatically actuated, or actuated in another suitable manner.

Rod-end drain valve 86 may be disposed between fluid passage 106 andfluid passage 72, and be configured to regulate a flow rate ofpressurized fluid from second chamber 40 of hydraulic cylinder 20 totank 53 in response to a flow command from controller 58. Rod-end drainvalve 86 may include a variable-position, spring-biased valve element,for example a poppet or spool element, that is solenoid actuated andconfigured to move to any position between a first end-position at whichfluid is allowed to flow from second chamber 40, and a secondend-position at which fluid is blocked from flowing from second chamber40. It is contemplated that rod-end drain valve 86 may includeadditional or different valve elements such as, for example, afixed-position valve element or any other valve element known in theart. It is also contemplated that rod-end drain valve 86 mayalternatively be hydraulically actuated, mechanically actuated,pneumatically actuated, or actuated in another suitable manner.

Head-end supply valve 88 may be disposed between fluid passage 68 and afluid passage 108 that leads to first chamber 38 of hydraulic cylinder26, and be configured to regulate a flow rate of pressurized fluid intofirst chamber 38 in response to a flow command from controller 58.Head-end supply valve 88 may include a variable-position, spring-biasedvalve element, for example a poppet or spool element, that is solenoidactuated and configured to move to any position between a firstend-position at which fluid is allowed to flow into first chamber 38,and a second end-position at which fluid flow is blocked from firstchamber 38. It is contemplated that head-end supply valve 88 may be alsoconfigured to allow fluid from first chamber 38 to flow through head-endsupply valve 88 during a regeneration event when a pressure within firstchamber 38 exceeds a pressure of pump 52 and/or a pressure of thechamber receiving the regenerated fluid. It is further contemplated thathead-end supply valve 88 may include additional or different elementssuch as, for example, a fixed-position valve element or any other valveelement known in the art. It is also contemplated that head-end supplyvalve 88 may alternatively be hydraulically actuated, mechanicallyactuated, pneumatically actuated, or actuated in another suitablemanner.

Rod-end supply valve 90 may be disposed between fluid passage 68 and afluid passage 110 that leads to second chamber 40 of hydraulic cylinder26, and be configured to regulate a flow rate of pressurized fluid intosecond chamber 40 in response to a flow command from controller 58.Specifically, rod-end supply valve 90 may include a variable-position,spring-biased valve element, for example a poppet or spool element, thatis solenoid actuated and configured to move to any position between afirst end-position, at which fluid is allowed to flow into secondchamber 40, and a second end-position, at which fluid is blocked fromsecond chamber 40. It is contemplated that rod-end supply valve 90 mayalso be configured to allow fluid from second chamber 40 to flow throughrod-end supply valve 90 during a regeneration event when a pressurewithin second chamber 40 exceeds a pressure of pump 52 and/or a pressureof the chamber receiving the regenerated fluid. It is furthercontemplated that rod-end supply valve 90 may include additional ordifferent valve elements such as, for example, a fixed-position valveelement or any other valve element known in the art. It is alsocontemplated that rod-end supply valve 90 may alternatively behydraulically actuated, mechanically actuated, pneumatically actuated,or actuated in another suitable manner.

Head-end drain valve 92 may be disposed between fluid passage 108 andfluid passage 74, and be configured to regulate a flow rate ofpressurized fluid from first chamber 38 of hydraulic cylinder 26 to tank53 in response to a flow command from controller 58. Specifically,head-end drain valve 92 may include a variable-position, spring-biasedvalve element, for example a poppet or spool element, that is solenoidactuated and configured to move to any position between a firstend-position at which fluid is allowed to flow from first chamber 38,and a second end-position at which fluid is blocked from flowing fromfirst chamber 38. It is contemplated that head-end drain valve 92 mayinclude additional or different valve elements such as, for example, afixed-position valve element or any other valve element known in theart. It is also contemplated that head-end drain valve 92 mayalternatively be hydraulically actuated, mechanically actuated,pneumatically actuated, or actuated in another suitable manner.

Rod-end drain valve 94 may be disposed between fluid passage 110 andfluid passage 74, and be configured to regulate a flow rate ofpressurized fluid from second chamber 40 of hydraulic cylinder 26 totank 53 in response to a flow command from controller 58. Rod-end drainvalve 94 may include a variable-position, spring-biased valve element,for example a poppet or spool element, that is solenoid actuated andconfigured to move to any position between a first end-position at whichfluid is allowed to flow from second chamber 40, and a secondend-position at which fluid is blocked from flowing from second chamber40. It is contemplated that rod-end drain valve 94 may includeadditional or different valve element such as, for example, afixed-position valve element or any other valve elements known in theart. It is also contemplated that rod-end drain valve 94 mayalternatively be hydraulically actuated, mechanically actuated,pneumatically actuated, or actuated in another suitable manner.

Pump 52 may have variable displacement and be load-sense controlled todraw fluid from tank 53 and discharge the fluid at a specified elevatedpressure to valve arrangements 54, 56. That is, pump 52 may include astroke-adjusting mechanism 96, for example a swashplate or spill valve,a position of which is hydro-mechanically adjusted based on a sensedload of hydraulic control system 48 to thereby vary an output (e.g., adischarge rate) of pump 52. The displacement of pump 52 may be adjustedfrom a zero displacement position at which substantially no fluid isdischarged from pump 52, to a maximum displacement position at whichfluid is discharged from pump 52 at a maximum rate. In one embodiment, aload-sense passage (not shown) may direct a pressure signal tostroke-adjusting mechanism 96 and, based on a value of that signal(i.e., based on a pressure of signal fluid within the passage), theposition of stroke-adjusting mechanism 96 may change to either increaseor decrease the output of pump 52 and thereby maintain the specifiedpressure. Pump 52 may be drivably connected to prime mover 16 of machine10 by, for example, a countershaft, a belt, or in another suitablemanner. Alternatively, pump 52 may be indirectly connected to primemover 16 via a torque converter, a gear box, an electrical circuit, orin any other manner known in the art.

Tank 53 may constitute a reservoir configured to hold a supply of fluid.The fluid may include, for example, a dedicated hydraulic oil, an enginelubrication oil, a transmission lubrication oil, or any other fluidknown in the art. One or more hydraulic circuits within machine 10 maydraw fluid from and return fluid to tank 53. It is also contemplatedthat hydraulic control system 48 may be connected to multiple separatefluid tanks, if desired.

Controller 58 may embody a single microprocessor or multiplemicroprocessors that include components for controlling valvearrangements 54, 56 based on, among other things, input from an operatorof machine 10 and/or one or more sensed operational parameters. Numerouscommercially available microprocessors can be configured to perform thefunctions of controller 58. It should be appreciated that controller 58could readily be embodied in a general machine microprocessor capable ofcontrolling numerous machine functions. Controller 58 may include amemory, a secondary storage device, a processor, and any othercomponents for running an application. Various other circuits may beassociated with controller 58 such as power supply circuitry, signalconditioning circuitry, solenoid driver circuitry, and other types ofcircuitry.

Controller 58 may receive operator input associated with a desiredmovement of machine 10 by way of one or more interface devices 98 thatare located within an operator station of machine 10. Interface devices98 may embody, for example, single or multi-axis joysticks, levers, orother known interface devices located proximate an onboard operator seat(if machine 10 is directly controlled by an onboard operator) or locatedwithin a remote station offboard machine 10. Each interface device 98may be a proportional-type device that is movable through a range from aneutral position to a maximum displaced position to generate acorresponding displacement signal that is indicative of a desiredvelocity of work tool 14 caused by hydraulic cylinders 20, 26, forexample desired lift and tilt velocities of work tool 14. The desiredlift and tilt velocity signals may be generated independently orsimultaneously by the same or different interface devices 98, and bedirected to controller 58 for further processing.

In some embodiments, a mode button 99 or other similar activatingcomponent may be associated with interface devices 98 and utilized bythe operator of machine 10 to initiate machine operation in a particularmode. For example, mode button 99 may be located on the same operatorinterface device 98 utilized to request particular lift and/or tiltvelocities, and be selectively activated by the operator to implement amode of operation that fixes a relationship between work tool liftingand tilting so as to alleviate tilt adjusting required by the operatorduring lifting. This fixed relationship mode of operation may becommonly known as parallel lift, and function to maintain a particularangle of work tool 14 relative to ground surface 18 during liftingwithout the operator being required to simultaneously correct thenaturally occurring work tool tilt. The same or another buttonassociated with interface devices 98 may be utilized by the operator toset the particular angle maintained during parallel lift. For example,the operator may move work tool 14 to a desired orientation, and thenactivate mode button 99 to indicate the current orientation is thedesired orientation. Parallel lift will be described in more detail inthe following section.

One or more maps relating the interface device signals, thecorresponding desired work tool velocities, associated flow rates, valveelement positions, system pressures, modes of operation, and/or othercharacteristics of hydraulic control system 48 may be stored in thememory of controller 58. Each of these maps may be in the form oftables, graphs, and/or equations. Controller 58 may be configured toallow the operator to directly modify these maps and/or to selectspecific maps from available relationship maps stored in the memory ofcontroller 58 to affect actuation of hydraulic cylinders 20, 26. It isalso contemplated that the maps may be automatically selected for use bycontroller 58 based on sensed or determined modes of machine operation,if desired.

Controller 58 may be configured to receive input from interface device98 and to command operation of valve arrangements 54, 56 in response tothe input and based on the relationship maps described above.Specifically, controller 58 may receive the interface device signalsindicative of a desired work tool lift/tilt velocities and mode ofoperation, and reference the selected and/or modified relationship mapsstored in the memory of controller 58 to determine desired flow ratesfor the appropriate supply and/or drain elements within valvearrangements 54, 56. The desired flow rates can then be commanded of theappropriate supply and drain elements to cause filling of particularchambers within hydraulic cylinders 20, 26 at rates that correspond withthe desired work tool velocities in the selected operational mode.

Controller 58 may rely, at least in part, on information from one ormore sensors during parallel lift. The information may include, forexample, sensory information regarding the lift velocity and orientationof work tool 14 relative to ground surface 18. In the disclosedembodiment, the lift velocity information is provided by way of avelocity sensor 103 associated with hydraulic cylinders 20, while theorientation information is provided by way of a position sensor 102associated with hydraulic cylinder 26. Sensors 102, 103 may each embodya magnetic pickup-type sensor associated with a magnet (not shown)embedded within the piston assembly 36 of the different hydrauliccylinders 20, 26. In this configuration, sensors 102, 103 may each beconfigured to detect an extension position of the correspondinghydraulic cylinder 20, 26 by monitoring the relative location of themagnet, and generate corresponding position signals directed tocontroller 58 for further processing. It is contemplated that sensors102, 103 may alternatively embody other types of sensors such as, forexample, magnetostrictive-type sensors associated with a wave guide (notshown) internal to hydraulic cylinders 20, 26, cable type sensorsassociated with cables (not shown) externally mounted to hydrauliccylinders 20, 26, internally- or externally-mounted optical sensors,rotary style sensors associated with joints pivotable by hydrauliccylinders 20, 26, or any other type of sensors known in the art. Fromthe position signals generated by sensors 102, 103 and based on knowngeometry and/or kinematics of hydraulic cylinders 20, 26 and linkagesystem 12, controller 58 may be configured to calculate the liftvelocity and orientation of work tool 14 relative to body 32 and/orground surface 18. This information may then be utilized by controller58 during parallel lift, as will be described in more detail below.

Controller 58 may also rely on pressure information during the controlof valve arrangements 54, 56. The pressure of hydraulic control system48 may be directly or indirectly measured by way of a pressure sensor105. Pressure sensor 105 may embody any type of sensor configured togenerate a signal indicative of a pressure of hydraulic control system48. For example, pressure sensor 105 may be a strain gauge-type,capacitance-type, or piezo-type compression sensor configured togenerate a signal proportional to a compression of an associated sensorelement by fluid in communication with the sensor element. Signalsgenerated by pressure sensor 105 may be directed to controller 58 forfurther processing.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary operation performed by controller 58during parallel lift. FIG. 3 will be discussed in more detail in thefollowing section to further illustrate the disclosed concepts.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The disclosed hydraulic control system may be applicable to any machinehaving a work tool where it is desirable to maintain a specificorientation of the work tool during lifting of the work tool. Thedisclosed hydraulic control system may be used to selectively implementa fixed relationship mode of operation, also known as parallel lift,that provides the ability to maintain the work tool orientation withlittle or no operator intervention. Operation of hydraulic controlsystem 48 will now be explained.

During operation of machine 10, a machine operator may manipulateinterface device 98 to request corresponding lifting and tiltingmovements of work tool 14. For example, the operator may move interfacedevice 98 in the fore/aft direction to request lifting of work tool 14downward (i.e., lowering) toward ground surface 18 with the force ofgravity and upward away from ground surface 18 against the force ofgravity, respectively. The operator may also move interface device 98 inthe left/right direction to request a rearward tilting (i.e., racking)of work tool 14 and a forward tilting (i.e., dumping) of work tool 14,respectively. The displacement positions of interface device 98 in thefore/aft and left/right directions may be related to operator desiredlift and tilt velocities of work tool 14. Interface device 98 maygenerate first and second velocity signals indicative of the operatordesired lift and tilt velocities of work tool 14 during manipulation,and direct these velocity signals to controller 58 for furtherprocessing. In general, the first and second velocity signals may bepositive when associated with upward lifting and racking, and negativewhen associated with lowering and dumping. The operator may choose alsoto implement parallel lift and/or to specify a desired work tool angleby way of mode button 99 located on interface device 98. A third signalindicative of the desire to activate parallel lift and/or indicative ofthe desired work tool angle to be maintained during lifting may begenerated by mode button 99 and directed to controller 58 for furtherprocessing.

It is contemplated that implementation of parallel lift may be triggeredand/or the desired work tool angle specified in a manner other than viamode button 99, if desired. For example, implementation of parallel liftmay be automatically triggered any time during work tool lifting when adesired tilt velocity signal is non-existent (i.e., when the operatorhas not requested tilting of work tool 14) or when a desired tiltvelocity that has been requested by the operator is less than athreshold amount (e.g., less than the tilt velocity required to maintainwork tool 14 at the desired angle during lifting). In this example, acurrent angle of work tool 14 at the time that lifting is requested bythe operator via interface device 98 may be the desired angle that isautomatically maintained by controller 58 during parallel lift.

In another embodiment, parallel lift may be automatically triggeredanytime work tool 14 is positioned within or enters a specified range oftilt angles during lifting. The specified range of tilt angles may bedefined as a range of angles measured between a particular surface ofwork tool 14, for example a substantially flat bottom surface 112 ofwork tool 14 and a generally horizontal plane of machine 10 such as aplane 114 shown in FIG. 1 as passing through a center of machinetraction devices 116. In the disclosed embodiment, the specified rangeof angles used to automatically trigger parallel lift may be about+/−20° to 30° between surface 112 and plane 114. In this embodiment, theangle of work tool 14 that should be maintained during parallel lift maybe the angle of work tool 14 during lifting when it enters the specifiedrange of angles or, alternatively the current angle of work tool 14within the specified range of angles at the time that lifting isrequested and parallel lift is initiated. It is contemplated that otherways of determining an operator's desire to implement parallel lift andthe desired angle of work tool 14 may be utilized, if desired.

During operation of machine 10, controller 58 may receive operator inputvia interface device 98 (e.g., signals regarding the desired work toolvelocities, mode activation, and/or a desired work tool angle), andposition, velocity, and pressure information via sensors 102, 103, and105 (Step 300). Based on the operator and sensory input, controller 58may determine if parallel lift of work tool 14 is desired using any ofthe methods described above. When controller 58 determines that parallellift is not desired by the operator of machine 10 (Step 305: No),controller 58 may determine and command flow rates corresponding to theoperator input in a conventional manner that result in the operatordesired work tool velocities (Step 310).

However, if at Step 305, controller 58 determines that parallel lift isdesired by the operator (Step 305: Yes), controller 58 may thendetermine what desired angle of work tool 14 should be maintained duringlifting (Step 315). As described above, the desired work tool angle maybe manually defined by operator manipulation of mode button 99 (or inanother manual manner) or, alternatively, automatically defined by theorientation of work tool 14 at the start of parallel lift (e.g. theorientation of work tool 14 within the range of angles specified forparallel lift).

In one embodiment, controller 58 may be configured to offset in aracking direction the desired angle of work tool 14 that should bemaintained during parallel lift (Step 320). The tilt angle offset, inthe disclosed embodiment, may be variable and change based on a lift ortilt amount implemented since initiating parallel lift (e.g., sincecapturing a desired angle to be maintained during parallel lift). Forexample when first initiating parallel lift, the tilt angle offset maybe about zero, and linearly increased to about 1° in the rackingdirection as work tool 14 is lifted a certain amount (e.g., about 400mm) and/or tilted by a particular angle. By offsetting the desired tiltangle of work tool 14 in the racking direction, errors associated withimplementation of parallel lift may be accommodated without allowingwork tool 14 to erroneously dump material. That is, it may be better tocause work tool 14 to rack slightly more than desired, than to allowwork tool 14 to erroneously dump material, and the tilt angle offset mayprovide this functionality. Step 320 may be optional and omitted, ifdesired.

Controller 58 may determine the tilt velocity required to maintain worktool 14 at the desired tilt angle during lifting in at least threedifferent ways. In particular, controller 58 may determine tilt velocityas a function of only the actual lift velocity of work tool 14 asreceived via sensor 103 (Step 330), as a function of the greater of theactual lift velocity and the desired lift velocity as received viainterface device 98 (Step 350), or as a function of only the desiredlift velocity (Step 345). Controller 58 may consider, among otherthings, a stalled condition of hydraulic cylinders 20 and a liftdirection of work tool 14 imparted by hydraulic cylinders 20 whenestablishing which way to determine the required tilt velocity of worktool 14.

In particular, after completion of Step 315 and, in some embodimentsalso after completion of the optional Step 320, controller 58 maydetermine if cylinders 20 have stalled and selectively affect tiltvelocity calculation based on the determination. One indication of stallmay be associated with a discharge pressure of pump 52 (as detected bysensor 105) approaching a maximum system pressure. A velocity ofcylinders 20 (as detected via sensor 102), alone or together with systempressure, may provide another indication of stall (e.g., when cylinders20 have zero velocity but are being provided with fluid pressurized tothe maximum pressure, cylinders 20 may be considered to have stalled).It is contemplated that other methods of determining stall may also beutilized, if desired. When controller 58 determines that cylinders 20are experiencing stall (Step 325: Yes), control may proceed to Step 330where controller 58 calculates the required tilt velocity for parallellift utilizing the first option described above. The reason forutilizing only actual lift velocity in this situation to determine therequired tilt velocity, is because a stalled condition of hydrauliccylinders 20 may result in a discrepancy between desired and actual liftvelocities (i.e., desired lift velocity will be non-zero, but actuallift velocity may be about zero during cylinder stall), and accuracy intilt control may only be possible through the use of the actual liftvelocity. If stall is not detected (Step 325: No), control may proceedinstead to Step 335, where lift direction may have an effect on tiltvelocity calculation.

At Step 335, controller 58 may determine if the lift direction requestedby the operator during parallel lift is with or against the force ofgravity (Step 335). If the lift direction requested by the operatorduring parallel lift is upward away from ground surface 18 and againstthe force of gravity (as manifest in one example by a positive desiredlift velocity signal or an aft-tilting movement of interface device 98),controller 58 may determine the corresponding tilt velocity required tomaintain the desired angle of work tool 14 during lifting as a functionof the desired lift velocity (i.e., control may continue to Step 345).If at Step 335, however, it is determined that the lift directionrequested by the operator during parallel lift is downward toward groundsurface 18 (as manifest in one example by a negative desired liftvelocity signal or a forward-tilting movement of interface device 98),controller 58 may first determine a magnitude of the desired liftvelocity before choosing which method to use in determining thecorresponding required tilt velocity. Specifically, controller 58 mayfirst determine if the desired lift velocity is about zero (i.e., withina threshold of zero), before determining to proceed to Step 345 or Step350 (Step 340).

If, at Step 340, controller 58 determines that the desired lift velocityis about zero (Step 340: Yes), control may proceed to Step 345, wherethe corresponding required tilt velocity may be determined as a functionof only the desired lift velocity. One reason why desired lift velocityalone may be used to determine the corresponding tilt velocity duringparallel lift when the desired lift velocity is about zero, is becausethere may be situations in particular machine applications wheresignificant delays in the actual lift velocity measurements performed bysensor 103/controller 58 and/or in the response of hydraulic cylinders20 occur. In these situations, because of the time delays, it may bepossible for the desired lift velocity, as provided by interface device98, to be about zero, but actual lift velocity, as measures by sensor103, to lag behind and be much greater. If the actual lift velocity wereused in this situation to determine the subsequent tilt velocity of worktool 14, work tool 14 might be caused to tilt at a time when work tool14 should no longer be lifting or tilting.

However, if at Step 340, controller 58 determines that the desired liftvelocity is not about zero, controller 58 may instead determine thecorresponding required tilt velocity as a function of the greater of thedesired and actual lift velocities. One reason that the greater of thedesired or actual lift velocities may be used during lifting movementswith the force of gravity (as opposed to always using desired liftvelocity), is because it may be possible for work tool 14 to actuallymove faster than the desired lift velocity when acted upon by the forceof gravity (e.g., in an overrunning situation). In this situation,determining the required tilt velocity as a function of the desired liftvelocity could result in an inaccurate tilt velocity (i.e., a velocitythat is too slow) that causes work tool 14 to be incorrectly positionedat an undesired angle.

In any of Steps 330, 345, or 350 described above, the function used bycontroller 58 to determine the tilt velocity required to maintain thedesired angle of work tool 14 during parallel lift may be a scalingfunction. In particular, controller 58 may be configured to scale downthe appropriate lift velocity (actual or desired accordingly to stallcondition, lift velocity magnitude, and lift direction) to determine therequired tilt velocity used as a feedforward control term duringparallel lifting of work tool 14. In one embodiment, the scaling factorused to scale down the lift velocity may be a fixed factor usedregardless of the tilt direction, angle, or velocity. In anotherembodiment, the scaling factor may change and be dependent at least inpart on the tilt direction, angle, and/or velocity of work tool 14. Forexample, when racking of work tool 14 during lifting is required tomaintain the desired work tool angle during lifting, a first scalingfactor may be utilized to determine the corresponding tilt velocity and,when dumping of work tool 14 during lifting is required, a secondscaling factor different from the first scaling factor (e.g., smallerthan the first scaling factor) may be utilized to determine thecorresponding tilt velocity. The difference in scaling factors usedduring racking and dumping may help to accommodate internal differencesin head- and rod-end cylinder geometry and/or the effects of gravity andother uncontrolled influences on the tilting velocity of work tool 14.It is contemplated that other scaling factor strategies may be used, ifdesired.

The specific scaling factor(s) used to determine the required tiltvelocity may be machine, work tool, and/or linkage system dependent, andbased on known kinematics. That is, for a given machine/tool/linkageconfiguration, the way that the orientation of a particular machine'swork tool 14 naturally changes during lifting may be known. Accordingly,the lift-to-tilt scaling factor(s) may be calculated based on the knownkinematics such that the orientation of work tool 14 remains about thesame (i.e., at the operator desired angle) during parallel lifting ofwork tool 14. The scaling factor(s) may be provided to controller 58 inthe form of factor values, equations, algorithms, and/or maps, whichcontroller 58 may then utilize to determine the scaled tilt velocity forany given lift velocity. After scaling the lift velocity (actual ordesired) to determine the required tilt velocity used as the feedforwardcontrol term during parallel lift, controller 58 may direct commandscorresponding to the desired lift and tilt velocities to thecorresponding lift and tilt valve arrangements 54, 56 to move hydrauliccylinders 20, 26 (Step 355).

Because of machine-to-machine variation, machine aging and wear, machinedamage, and other factors over which controller 58 may have littleinfluence, it may be possible for orientation errors greater than can beaccommodated by the tilt offset to occur during parallel lift operationsof machine 10. That is, it may be possible that the scaled tilt velocitymay not always successfully maintain work tool 14 in the desiredorientation during lifting. Accordingly, controller 58 may also utilizefeedback from sensors 102, 103, in some embodiments, to account forand/or correct the errors. Specifically, controller 58 may receive theactual tilt angle of work tool 14 (i.e., receive indications of theactual tilt angle) from sensors 102 and/or 103 (Step 360), andcontinuously or selectively compare the actual tilt angle to the desiredtilt angle and determine if the scaling factor is successfullymaintaining work tool 14 at the desired tilt angle duringoperator-requested lifting (Step 365). If the scaling factor andassociated tilt velocity are not successfully maintaining the desiredwork tool orientation during lifting (Step 350: No) (i.e., if thedifference is greater than a threshold amount), controller 58 may beconfigured to selectively adjust the scaling factor and/or commandedtilt velocity accordingly (Step 370). Control may loop through Steps 365and 370 until the orientation error has been sufficiently reduced. Insome embodiments, controller 58 may also be configured to makeincremental adjustments to the scaling factor over time that can besaved and utilized in future parallel lift operations each time thecomparison of Step 365 is completed and errors are determined, tothereby improve future work tool orientation accuracies, if desired.After successful completion of Step 370, control may return to Step 300.

During parallel lift operations in some machine applications, because ofparticular configurations of linkage system 12, tilting of work tool 14may need to transition between racking and dumping during lifting in asingle direction in order to maintain the desired angle. That is, for aparticular machine linkage configuration, as work tool 14 is lifting inone direction, controller 58 may determine that racking is firstnecessary to maintain a desired angle of work tool 14. After a period oflifting, however, as work tool 14 nears a particular point in an arc ofmotion, for example an apex, controller 58 may determine that dumping issubsequently required to maintain the desired angle during continuedlifting. In this situation, as controller 58 transitions between rackingand dumping control of work tool 14 during parallel lift (i.e., as theparticular point is neared), controller 58 may be configured to commandtilt valve arrangement 56 to stop metering fluid for a period of liftbounding the transition point (i.e., controller 58 may implement adeadband). This deadband may help to reduce instabilities in tiltcontrol during the transition.

In one example, the deadband described above may be applicable othertimes not associated with the transition between racking and dumping ofwork tool 14. In particular, controller 58 may be configured toselectively command tilt valve arrangement 56 to stop metering fluidwhen an operator-initiated lift command leads to a very small tilt anglechange. Although this generally occurs at the transition point betweenracking and dumping, this may also occur, for example, when lift hasjust been initiated and/or when lift is being commanded at a very slowrate.

In another example, controller 58 may initiate a deadband of allowableerror instead of or in addition to the deadband described above. Inparticular, controller 58 may be configured to only adjust the velocitycommand directed to tilt valve arrangement 56 based on feedback fromsensors 102, 103 when the error between desired and actual tilt anglebecomes greater than a threshold amount. When this error is less thanthe threshold amount, controller 58 may only utilize feedforward control(i.e., control based on only scaled lift velocity). And, once thethreshold amount of error has been exceeded, controller 58 may utilizeboth feedforward and feedback control until the amount of error isreduced to about zero. In some embodiment, the threshold amount of errormay be variable and based on, for example, the sign of the feedforwardcontrol term (i.e., based on whether work tool 14 is dumping orracking).

In some applications, it may be possible for the hydraulic controlsystem 48 of particular machines 10 to be flow-limited during parallellift. That is, it may be possible for a demand for pressurized fluid toexceed a supply rate of pump 52. During positive parallel lifting (i.e.lifting away from ground surface 18 in the fixed relationship mode ofoperation), pressure compensating valves 78 may function toratiometrically distribute (i.e., distribute based on flow areas of liftand tilt valve arrangements 54, 56) the limited flow of pressurizedfluid from pump 52 to each of lift and tilt valve arrangements 54, 56(i.e., pressure compensating valves 78 may function to restricted flowto each of lift and tilt valve arrangements in an amount based onpressure and a ratio of the flow areas). Accordingly, work tool 14 maybe maintained at the desired angle during positive parallel lifting evenwhen machine 10 is flow-limited, although lifting and tilting may bothoccur slower than normal. However, during negative parallel lifting(i.e., during lifting toward ground surface 18 with the force ofgravity) when machine 10 is flow-limited, controller 58 may need tomodify the velocity commands directed to lift and/or tilt valvearrangements 54, 56 to help ensure that work tool 14 is maintained atthe desired angle with less than adequate fluid supply. Specifically,controller 58 may be configured to selectively reduce a velocity commanddirected to lift valve arrangement 54 and/or to increase a velocitycommand directed to tilt valve arrangement 56 during flow-limitednegative parallel lift. The reduction in the velocity command directedto lift valve arrangement 54 may result in an availability of some flowfor use by tilt valve arrangement 56, while the effects of gravity onlift speed may make up for the reduction in lift flow. Accordingly, thereduction may be in an amount related to an amount required by tiltvalve arrangement 56 to maintain work tool 14 at the desired tilt angle.The increased velocity command directed to tilt valve arrangement 56, inconjunction with the flow distribution functionality of pressurecompensating valves 78, may result in some flow originally intended forlift valve arrangement 54 being diverted to tilt valve arrangement 56.

Controller 58 may terminate parallel lift operations based on variousinput. For example, controller 58 may terminate parallel lift based onoperator input received via mode button 99 (e.g., when mode button 99 ismanipulated by the operator during parallel lift). In another example,parallel lift may be terminated when an operator requests via interfacedevice 98 a desired lift velocity that is about zero (i.e., when theoperator stops manipulating interface device 98) or requests a desiredtilt velocity. In yet another example, controller 58 may terminateparallel lift as the tilt angle of work tool 14 deviates from the rangeof angles specified for use during parallel lift (e.g., when surface 112work tool 14 nears or exceeds about +/−30° relative to plane 114), asprovided by way of sensor 102. In a final example, controller 58 mayterminate parallel lift when parallel lift is no longer physicallypossible to implement, such as when one of cylinders 20, 26 nears orreaches an end-of-stroke position or another physical limit is attained.Other input causing termination of parallel lift may also be possible.

Controller 58 may terminate parallel lift operations in a gradualmanner. Specifically, when mode button 99 is depressed during parallellift, when the desired lift velocity goes to about zero (i.e., when theoperator stops manipulating interface device 98), when a desired tiltvelocity is received from the operator, when the tilt angle nears orexceeds about +/−30°, and/or when one of cylinders 20, 26 nears orreaches an end-of-stroke position, controller 58 may gradually decreasethe automatic control of tilt velocity to thereby gradually transitionthe tilting movement of work tool 14 to either a zero titling velocity(in the examples of mode button 99 being pressed or the specified rangeof angles being exceeded) or an operator controlled tilt velocity (inthe examples of the operator requesting a tilt velocity), and avoidabrupt tilt velocity changes that could result in material within worktool 14 being shifted or spilled. For example, when an operatormanipulates operator interface device 98 to command a desired tiltvelocity, controller 58 may immediately stop commanding tilt valvearrangement 56 based on the feedback from sensors 102, 103. In addition,as the desired tilt velocity increases, the feedforward control termutilized by controller 58 may be reduced until the velocity commanddirected to tilt valve arrangement 56 is entirely dependent on operatorinput. In one example, controller 58 may not begin reducing thefeedforward control term until the tilt velocity signal from interfacedevice 98 indicates a desired velocity at least a threshold amount, forexample about 50% of a maximum velocity. It is contemplated that thephasing out of the feedforward control term may be implemented in alinear or curvilinear manner, as desired, and based on equations and/ormaps stored within the memory of controller 58.

In the example that utilizes the specified range of angles for parallellift operation and/or in the example where one of hydraulic cylinders20, 26 reaches its end-of-stroke position, feedback control may be madeinactive and feedforward control gradually phased to about zero asendpoints of the specified range and/or end-of-stroke position areneared. Similarly, when a fault condition is detected by controller 58,feedback control may be immediately eliminated and both the lifting andtilting movements gradually reduced to about zero over a set period oftime to reduce tool movement instabilities. During this time-basedgradual reduction of lift and tilt velocities, the tilt velocity maystill be determined as a scaled ratio of the reducing lift velocity suchthat the parallel movement of work tool 14 may be maintained.

In some situations, the desired work tool tilt angle utilized forparallel lift may change when parallel lift is prematurely terminated.Specifically, at the time of termination, it may be possible that theactual tilt angle does not equal the original operator-desired tiltangle. In this situation, when parallel lift has been terminated, thecurrent tilt angle may become the desired tilt angle used in subsequentoperations when parallel lift is again implemented.

The disclosed hydraulic control system 48 may provide for a responsiveand accurate way to maintain a desired work tool angle during a liftingoperation. In particular, because a desired lift velocity may be scaleddown to produce a tilt velocity that should maintain the desiredorientation, hydraulic control system 48 may be proactive and not needto first experience an undesired orientation before changing adjustingthe orientation of work tool 14. This functionality may help to improveaccuracy in the orientation of work tool 14, as well as responsiveness.In fact, because the hydraulic control system 48 may have the ability toadjust the scale factor used during the scaling, accuracy in theorientation may be enhanced even further over time.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and variations can be made to the disclosed hydraulicsystem. Other embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the artfrom consideration of the specification and practice of the disclosedhydraulic system. For example, although Steps 300-370 are shown anddescribed as occurring in a particular order, it is contemplated thatthe order of the steps may be modified, if desired. It is intended thatthe specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with atrue scope being indicated by the following claims and theirequivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A hydraulic system, comprising: a pump configuredto pressurize fluid; a lift actuator; a lift valve arrangementconfigured to meter pressurized fluid from the pump into the liftactuator to lift a work tool; a tilt actuator; a tilt valve arrangementconfigured to meter pressurized fluid from the pump into the tiltactuator to tilt the work tool; at least one sensor configured togenerate a first signal indicative of an actual tilt angle of the worktool; at least one operator interface device movable by an operator togenerate a second signal indicative of a desired lift velocity of thework tool, and a third signal indicative of desired tilt velocity of thework tool; and a controller in communication with the lift valvearrangement, the tilt valve arrangement, the at least one sensor, andthe at least one operator interface device, the controller beingconfigured to: command the lift valve arrangement to meter pressurizedfluid into the lift actuator to lift the work tool based on the secondsignal; command the tilt valve arrangement to meter pressurized fluidinto the tilt actuator to tilt the work tool based on the third signal;and when the desired tilt velocity is non-zero and below a threshold:determine a target tilt velocity that results in the work tool beingmaintained at a desired tilt angle during lifting by scaling the desiredlift velocity using: a first scaling factor when the work tool istilting in a first direction, and a second scaling factor different fromthe first scaling factor when the work tool is tilting in a seconddirection opposite the first direction; determine a tilt command basedon the target tilt velocity; and direct the tilt command to the tiltvalve arrangement during work tool lifting, when the first signalindicates that the actual tilt angle of the work tool has entered aspecified range of tilt angles during lifting, command the tilt valvearrangement to meter pressurized fluid into the tilt actuator based onthe second signal and maintain the desired tilt angle of the work toolas long as the actual tilt angle of the work tool remains within thespecified range, and when the first signal indicates that the actualtilt angle of the work tool is no longer within the specified range oftilt angles during lifting, command the tilt valve arrangement togradually reduce the meter of pressurized fluid into the lift actuatorand gradually reduce the meter of pressurized fluid into the tiltactuator.
 2. The hydraulic system of claim 1, wherein the controller isconfigured to phase out the tilt command as an absolute value of thethird signal indicates the desired tilt velocity increasing past thethreshold amount.
 3. The hydraulic system of claim 2, wherein thethreshold amount is about 50% of a maximum tilt velocity.
 4. Thehydraulic system of claim 2, wherein the controller is furtherconfigured to adjust the tilt command based on a comparison of thedesired tilt angle with the actual tilt angle.
 5. The hydraulic systemof claim 3, wherein the controller is further configured to adjust thetilt command based on the comparison of the desired tilt angle with theactual tilt angle only when the absolute value of the third signal isabout zero.
 6. The hydraulic system of claim 3, wherein the controlleris further configured to: determine that tilting of the work tool mustswitch directions at a particular point during lifting in order tomaintain the desired tilt angle; and command the tilt valve arrangementto stop metering pressurized fluid based on proximity to the particularpoint.
 7. The hydraulic system of claim 3, wherein, when a current tiltangle of the work tool nears a boundary of the range, the controller isconfigured to stop adjusting the tilt command based on the comparison ofthe desired tilt angle with the actual tilt angle and gradually reducethe tilt valve command based on a distance from the boundary.
 8. Thehydraulic system of claim 3, wherein the controller is furtherconfigured to: initiate adjustment of the tilt command only when thecomparison shows a difference between the desired tilt angle and theactual tilt angle greater than a threshold amount; and continueadjusting the tilt command until the difference between the desired tiltangle and the actual tilt angle is about zero.
 9. The hydraulic systemof claim 1, wherein, when the hydraulic system is flow-limited duringwork tool lifting in a direction with the force of gravity, thecontroller is configured to limit pump flow to the lift actuator by anamount related to an amount required by the tilt actuator to maintainthe work tool at the desired tilt angle.
 10. The hydraulic system ofclaim 1, wherein, when the hydraulic system is flow-limited during worktool lifting in a direction with the force of gravity, the controller isconfigured to command increased flow to the tilt actuator above anamount determined to be required by the tilt actuator to maintain thework tool at the desired tilt angle based on the second signal.
 11. Thehydraulic system of claim 1, wherein, during command of the tilt valvearrangement based on the second signal, when the second signal indicatesa desired lift velocity of about zero, a current tilt angle becomes thedesired tilt angle for subsequent control.
 12. The hydraulic system ofclaim 11, wherein, during command of the tilt valve arrangement based onthe second signal, when the third signal is received, a tilt angle ofthe work tool resulting from control based on the third signal becomesthe desired tilt angle for subsequent control based on the second signalwhen the third signal indicates a desired tilt velocity of about zero.13. The hydraulic system of claim 12, wherein: the work tool is tiltablein a racking direction away from a ground surface and a dumpingdirection toward the ground surface; and the controller is configured tooffset the tilt command an amount in the racking direction that isrelated to an amount of lifting implemented since capture of the desiredtilt angle.
 14. The hydraulic system of claim 1, wherein the specifiedrange of tilt angles includes about +/−30° as measured from asubstantially flat surface of the work tool to a generally horizontalmachine or ground surface.
 15. A method of operating a machine,comprising: receiving operator input indicative of a desired liftvelocity of a work tool and a desired tilt velocity of the work tool;pressurizing fluid by a pump; metering pressurized fluid by a lift valvearrangement into a lift actuator based on the desired lift velocity;sensing an actual tilt angle of the work tool with a sensor; and whenthe desired tilt velocity is non-zero and below a threshold: determininga target tilt velocity that results in the work tool being maintained ata desired tilt angle during lifting by scaling the desired lift velocityusing: a first scaling factor when the work tool is tilting in a firstdirection, and a second scaling factor different from the first scalingfactor when the work tool is tilting in a second direction opposite thefirst direction; determining a tilt command based on the target tiltvelocity; and metering pressurized fluid by a lift valve arrangementinto a tilt actuator based on the tilt command during work tool lifting,when the actual tilt angle of the work tool enters a specified range oftilt angles during lifting, metering pressurized fluid into the tiltactuator based on the desired lift velocity to maintain a desired tiltangle of the work tool during lifting for as long as the actual tiltangle of the work tool remains within the specified range, and when theactual tilt angle of the work tool is no longer within the specifiedrange during lifting, gradually reducing the meter of pressurized fluidinto the lift actuator and gradually reducing the meter of pressurizedfluid into the tilt actuator.
 16. The method of claim 15, furtherincluding phasing out the tilt command as an absolute value associatedwith the operator input indicates the desired tilt velocity isincreasing past the threshold amount.
 17. The method of claim 16,wherein the threshold amount is about 50% of a maximum tilt velocity.18. The method of claim 16, further including: making a comparison ofthe actual tilt angle to the desired tilt angle; and adjusting the tiltcommand based on the comparison.
 19. The method of claim 17, whereinadjusting includes adjusting the tilt command based on the comparisononly when the absolute value associated with the operator inputindicates the desired tilt velocity is about zero.
 20. The method ofclaim 17, further including: determining that tilting of the work toolmust switch directions at a particular point during lifting in order tomaintain the desired tilt angle; and stop metering pressurized fluidinto the tilt valve arrangement based on a proximity to the particularpoint.
 21. The method of claim 17, wherein when a current tilt angle ofthe work tool nears a boundary of the range, the method furtherincludes: stop adjusting the tilt command based on the comparison; andgradually reducing the tilt valve command based on a distance from theboundary.
 22. The method of claim 17, further including: initiatingadjustment of the tilt command only when the comparison shows adifference between the desired tilt angle and the actual tilt anglegreater than a threshold amount; and continue adjusting the tilt commanduntil the difference between the desired tilt angle and the actual tiltangle is about zero.
 23. The method of claim 15, wherein, when themachine is flow-limited during work tool lifting in a direction with theforce of gravity, the method further includes limiting the metering ofpressurized fluid into the lift actuator by an amount related to anamount required by the tilt actuator to maintain the work tool at thedesired tilt angle.
 24. The method of claim 15, wherein, when themachine is flow-limited during work tool lifting in a direction with theforce of gravity, the method further includes commanding increasedmetering of pressurized fluid into the tilt actuator above an amountdetermined to be required by the tilt actuator to maintain the work toolat the desired tilt angle.
 25. The method of claim 15, wherein, duringthe metering of pressurized fluid into the tilt actuator based on thedesired lift velocity, when the operator input indicates a desired liftvelocity about zero, the method further includes setting a current tiltangle of the work tool as the desired tilt angle for subsequent control.26. The method of claim 25, wherein, during the metering of pressurizedfluid into the tilt actuator based on the desired lift velocity, whenthe operator input indicative of the desired tilt velocity is received,a work tool angle resulting from control based on the desired tiltvelocity becomes the desired tilt angle for subsequent tilt anglecontrol based on the desired lift velocity when the desired tiltvelocity becomes about zero.
 27. The method of claim 26, wherein: thework tool is tiltable in a racking direction away from a ground surfaceand a dumping direction toward the ground surface; and the methodfurther includes offsetting the tilt command an amount in the rackingdirection that is related to an amount of lifting implemented sincecapture of the desired tilt angle.
 28. The method of claim 15, whereinthe specified range of tilt angles includes about +/−30° as measuredfrom a substantially flat surface of the work tool to a generallyhorizontal machine or ground surface.